In a discussion of $3000 airguns the thread started drifting into use of airguns on large game. Deer and larger game. A view was expressed that it is not very ethical because airguns do not generate shock and the theory is that means a slow death for the game. I do not agree with a lot of that view.
It is true that airgun velocities are like handgun velocities or black powder gun velocities. The tissue in our quarry will expand much more slowly due to the lower velocity and it will be able to collapse back eliminating any shock damage. I think looking at ballistic gel projectile paths for airguns is misleading because of this. But when the only guns were black powder velocity was similarly limited and lots of large animals died. I used to live in PA and have a left handed flintlock for their primitive weapons season. I did not kill a deer with it but I am confident a 45 caliber lead ball will cleanly take a deer at close range. It has been done many, many times. It can break the shoulder bone to get to the lungs.
Some enjoy using handguns to take large game. Even a 44 magnum is too slow to create shock damage to animals. So it kills by making a hole just like an airgun or a black powder rifle. Game up to and including Cape buffalo have been taken with them. I would not attempt that but to argue they won't take a deer because they do not generate shock is just incorrect.
When I shoot a squirrel with my 177, 22, or 25 caliber airguns I usually get DRT results. There is no shock. I use only domed pellets so they do not even expand. They make a big enough hole in the head or chest and the animal dies in seconds.
Agun fpe can be as high as 1200 fpe which most would admit is enough for deer. But most are much lower. Airguns have to be large in caliber to make fairly high fpe but that means their projectiles do not need to expand to make a large enough hole to kill a deer. I tend to agree that most of us should not use guns which will only work if we make a good brain shot. Not a head shot, a brain shot. But with a 45 caliber airgun we can be right up there with blackpowder guns and large bore handguns.ir
State game commissions exist to ensure the animals are taken responsibly. Most allow airguns. They looked at the evidence and decided they are big enough.
I only use airguns for small game but with the right gun, I am sure they will ethically take large game. Not at hundreds of yards but cleanly and ethically.
